Can-opener.



A. M. RUSSELL.

(JAN OPENER.

APPLICATION IILED MAB..8, 1907.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

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' In: 0km: PITER: 60-, WASHINGTON. n cvv ARTHUR RUSSELL, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

CAN-OPENER.

Y Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1909.

Application filedMarch 8, 19 0?. Serial No. 361,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. RUSSELL, of the city of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to can openers, and the ob ect is to. provide an inexpensive and efficient tool that will be adapted to open any size or type of can whatever.

The device consists, essentially, of a shank member secured at one end to a suitable handle and having its opposite end provided with a pair of oppositely disposed integral prongs. A cutter member, provided with a plurality of knives of various forms, is slidably mounted on the shank and engages a rack formed on one edge thereof by means of a suitable spring catch or pawl.

In the drawings which illustrategmy invention:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cutter member and a portion of the shank. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the device as used to open rectangular cans or tins. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the method of cutting out the top of a cylin drical can. Fig. 5 is a perspective View showing the method of cutting off the top of a cylindrical can below the edge. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the device showing the spring and pawl.

Referring to the parts, 1 designates the shank member fixed at one extremity to the handle 2 and having itsopposite end provided with a pair of oppositely disposed prongs or spurs 3. One edge of the shank is provided with a plurality ofteeth l. The cutter member comprises a sleeve 5 surrounding the shank andadapted to slide back and forth thereon. The cutter member is provided with a plurality of knives'preferably formed integral therewith and each adapted to be used in a different manner. The knife 6, formed approximately as shown in Fig. l, is pointed at its outer extremity and lies in the same plane and parallel with one side of the cutter member. The knife 7, formed at the opposite side of the cutter member, is bent at right angles to the sleeve and is'also pointed at its outerextremity. The knife 8, formed at the front of the sleeve 5 on the opposite side from the knife 7, is bent outwardly and then parallel with the sleeve so as to lie out of the planeiof the knife 6. i The sleeve 5 is provided with a spring 9 riveted thereto, said spring being provided with a projection or pawl 9 adapted to engage the teeth 4 of the shank to prevent the cutter member from slipping back against the operators hand when the tool is in use. The spring 9 may be lifted and thepawl 9 disengaged from the teeth 4 to set the cutter at any desired position.

The operation of opening a rectangular can consists in sliding the sleeve member to the outer end of the shank where it is locked in position by the projection or pawl 9 engaging the teeth 4. The point of the knife 6 is then forced through the metal of the can and the handle raised in the usual manner, using the prongs 3 as a fulcrum.

In cutting outthe top of a circular tin, the prong on the side adjacent the knife 7 is forced through the center ofthe metal, the sleeve is slid out the required distance, and the knife 7 forced through the metal at the circumference of the can. By movlng the toolin a circle, using the prong as a center, the top can be completely cut away, 'as shown in Fig. 4.

To remove the top of a can inthe manner shown in Fig. 5, the opposite prong is forced through the center of the top and the knife 8 is slid towards the can until it penetrates the side wall below the seam. The sleeve will be kept in position by the spring catch 9 and the top of the can entirely removed below the seam.

The advantages of this device and its great variety of uses will be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A can opener comprising a shank having a pair of prongs at one end thereof, a cutter member slidable on said shank, means for locking said cutter member in position, a knife projecting at right angles to one side ofsaid cutter member, and a pair of knives extending parallel to the opposite side of said cutter member.

2. A can opener comprising a shank, a handle therefor, a pair of oppositely disposed prongs on one end of said shank, a cutter sleeve slidable on the shank, said sleeve being provided with a knife projecting at right angles to one side of same, a

- posite side of said sleeve, and means for second knife parallel to and in the saine plane as the oppositesioleof said sleeve, and

a third knife parallel to but lying outof the plane of said second knife.

3. A can opener comprising a shank, a

handletherefor a Jair of ron s on one end of said shank, a cutter sleeve slidable on said shank, said cutter sleeve being provided With an integral knife projecting at right angles toone'sideof the sleeve, and a pair of for;- Waidly projecting knives parallel to the oplocking said sleeve in position.

- 4;. A can 'opener' CODIPFlSlIlg a shank a handle therefor, a pair of prongs on one end ofsald shank, a cutter sleeve slidable on said slianlgmeans for locking said sleeve in position, a knife projecting at right angles to one side of said sleeve, 21 second knife proecting forwardly -1Il the same plane as the opposite side of said 'sleeve, and a third forivardly projecting knife lying parallel to the ing nieans for'engaging said teeth to lock the sleeve in position, a knife projecting at right angles to one side of said sleeve, a second knife parallel to and 111 the same plane-as the opposite side of said sleeve, and

a third knife parallel to but lying out of the plane of said second knife.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. RUSSELL. lVitnesses C. V. TAYLOR, STUART R. lV. ALLEN. 

